Frontman Chris Chu is a fan – a borderline disciple, even – of iconic pop bands, and the Morning Benders’ work continues to be anchored by his melodies, even if theyre now flanked by textured arrangements and an active backup band. While Talking Through Tin Cans was almost a Chu solo project, Big Echo relies quite heavily on the whole group, with multiple electric guitars replacing Tin Cans acoustics and dense, layered soundscapes reigning supreme. Grizzly Bears Chris Taylor shares production duties with Chu, and the two brew up something majestic with tracks like All Day Daylight, a fizzy ode to summer, and Excuses, which opens the album with orchestral percussion and waltzing strings. Rarely do the piles of auxiliary instruments threaten to bury the band – if anything, Big Echo takes a page from Pet Sounds by allowing the production to shine on its own, highlighting the studio embellishments but never shifting focus away from the bands own hooks. The Morning Benders have improved their game, and Big Echo finds them focusing not only on what theyre singing, but how theyre presenting those melodies. Andrew Leahey.

1. Excuses
2. Promises
3. Wet Cement
4. Cold War
5. Pleasure Sighs
6. Hand Me Downs
7. Mason Jar
8. All Day Day Light
9. Stitches
10. Sleepin In